Apple TV - Questions from Control4 User

[rchawla80]

Hi everyone -

I am hoping I can find some wisdom on these forums. I am new to here and a recent Mac convert with 1 MBP and 1 MB and Iphones in the house.

A little background: We have a house with 6 rooms with a home automation system called Control4 which does wireless Audio streaming and home automation in terms of remotes, lightning and audio storage. We have no integrated video streaming solution. Hence my look towards Apple TV (affordable solution).

Here is my goal: To replace all Control4 equipment and put an Apple TV in every room so that we can have audio video in each room by the user and also streamed from a central source if needed. Since there are local receivers and DVD players and TV in every room, I will use a Logitech remote to integrate all the components.

I am not too worried about the lightning as we are okay just leaving them alone. My biggest goal is for people to able to to listen to the music that they want easily and watch movies that I have downloaded anywhere in the house.

Early thoughts?

MY concerns:

1. Will Apple TV support HD over Component (I have no HDMI in the house).
2. Will HD support up to 1080p (at any point) - is the Apple TV strong enough?
3. Will the wireless network support multiple video streams if needed (I have two Wireless N routers across the house) (all rooms will be ethernet so I am guessing should be okay).
4. Can I use all the popular formats? MKV? AVI? DVDR? WMV?
5. If not, is it possible after hacking (is it a hard process)
6. Can I play one audio stream across multiple zones simultaneously with an Apple TV? If we are having a party, I need to play the same song in the living room and the family room (control 4 currently supports that).

I know some will say why remove Control4. Honestly, I see very little use for it other than integration of components and the audio piece. If I can replace 90% of these functions with an Apple TV and a Logitech remote, I would prefer it.

I know I have written a lot but would appreciate some honest thought out feedback. If anyone has done something like this, please contact me and would love to chat.

Thanks
RC

 

[wrlibrd]

I'm interested in what you may have decided to do.
I'm also using an apple tv and control4 in my house.
You don't mention how you plan to amplify the signal in the rooms. Apple TV is not an amplified signal, you will still need some kind of receiver in the rooms you wish to hear music.

I use control4 to automate lights, and various other items in my home, the I have multiple stations around my house of either apple tvs or laptops that access all the media which is served from my media server int he basement.

My iPhone is glue that pulls it all together, I can control any of the remote stations in the house using the remote app for itunes choosing which set of remote speakers to play sound from, or the control4 myHouse app for the rest.


TV

1. Will Apple TV support HD over Component (I have no HDMI in the house).
I beleive yes
2. Will HD support up to 1080p (at any point) - is the Apple TV strong enough? dont know
3. Will the wireless network support multiple video streams if needed (I have two Wireless N routers across the house) (all rooms will be ethernet so I am guessing should be okay). I have had three streams work simultaneously with little or no lag
4. Can I use all the popular formats? MKV? AVI? DVDR? WMV?
not out of the box...
5. If not, is it possible after hacking (is it a hard process)
yes its possible though I have had mixed results
6. Can I play one audio stream across multiple zones simultaneously with an Apple TV? If we are having a party, I need to play the same song in the living room and the family room (control 4 currently supports that).
yes this works fine.

 

[creative9275]

control4 qusetions

in response to your post you should look at Xbox or ps3 to do all of that it will be less money and you will get way more for your dollar.... if your looking for more info contact me through or web site creativehome-innovations.com

and as for control4 as a former DEALER i would not recommend there product do to it not working 85% of the time...

Apple tv will not support HD over component video it will down grade the signel to 720p or 480i- p
the xbox or ps3 will upconvert to 1080p